What can you do in just 67 minutes? That’s the question being asked across South Africa as Nelson Mandela Day approaches. Each year, volunteers from around the world get together the week of July 18th, Nelson Mandela’s birthday, to volunteer 67 minutes of their time – one minute for every year of President Mandela’s public service. Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the ability to make an impact, holds the power to transform the world.
This year, Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa is rising to the challenge. Two and a half million children face chronic hunger every day in South Africa. Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa is calling for volunteers to join the Million Meal Challenge to ensure food security for thousands of pre-school children in South Africa.
The Million Meal Challenge is a massive volunteer meal packaging drive that will be taking place in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban on Friday 17 July. Graça Machel, the chief patron of Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, will be joining forces with local celebrities such as musicians Chad Saaiman and Elvis Blue, and MasterChef SA winner Roxi Wardman, plus thousands of volunteers as they attempt to package one million meals in four 67-minute shifts.
“Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa pays a pivotal and vital role in ensuring that children obtain an education whilst being hunger free” says Graça Machel. “The Mandela Day Meal Packaging Event also gives recognition to the efforts of my late husband and the first democratically elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. There can be no greater joy than acknowledging that each year, our efforts with Stop Hunger Now continue to nurture and feed hungry children whilst ensuring their education.” The meals packaged during the million meal challenge will help Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa feed 5,000 children healthy and nutritious meals for one year.
To learn more or to volunteer 67 minutes of your time, visit Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa.